AN: Another rule appears: Rule 8: Never take anything for granted. Thanks to Choosing_sarah for the beta!

Chapter 4

Tony walked into the bullpen bright and early that morning. He didn't know what the day would bring after his confession to Tim the day before, and he wanted to have his armor in place well before the probie walked in.

He forced himself to concentrate on the cold case Gibbs had assigned to him, losing himself in the familiar routine of checking and re-checking the facts, taking the pieces of the puzzle out and shaking them up to see if a fresh perspective would change the conclusions. He barely acknowledged Ziva when she walked in with the morning coffee run, didn't even notice when Tim showed up — just looked over at one point to see him sitting there.

McGeek looked like he'd barely slept, and Tony felt his hard-won detachment slipping away. He'd known even as he'd admitted his feelings to Tim yesterday that it was going to cause problems. Gibbs had Rule 12 for a reason, and this was why. Not for the first time, he mentally head-slapped himself for starting that online flirtation with Tim last year. At least before that he had been able to squash his feelings into the little box inside him where he stuck the messy, squishy thoughts that only led to bad things like almost getting blown up by rogue spooks.

And then after Tim and Abby returned from Mexico, Tim had admitted he fell in love with Tony, or rather, with Claire the previous year, and that had done something to the lock on that box, broken it so it wouldn't latch quite right, and now he couldn't keep everything from leaking out at the worst times. He couldn't keep himself from trying to get Tim to pay attention to him, and then when he did, too often it got to be too much and Tony had to get away before he did something stupid like try and kiss his partner. Only the craziness of the events leading up to the drug cartel takedown had kept Tony sane, and now that they had finished that, it was like Tim had one of those Alice in Wonderland tags on him that said "Eat Me" and Tony couldn't find it in him to resist.

When Ziva dug up a lead on her cold case, and Gibbs sent McGee with her to run it down, Tony let out a silent sound of relief. With any luck, they would be gone the rest of the afternoon.

"DiNozzo."

Tony looked up to see Gibbs sitting on the edge of his desk.

"Boss, you get sneakier every year."

"Wasn't even trying that time, Tony. You're just too deep in your head to notice me."

Tony just shrugged. "You know me, zoning out lets me focus on the case. Meditation, focus. That's the key to my investigative prowess."

Gibbs' lips quirked up slightly. "And keeps you from ogling other teammates?"

Tony jerked in surprise, smacking one knee against the underside of his desk. "Boss?"

"Calm down, DiNozzo. As long as it doesn't affect the team, I don't care what happens."

He paused for a second, giving Tony a chance to say "Nothing's happening. Nothing's going to happen."

"Ya think?" Gibbs actually smiled, and Tony put his hands on his desk to steady himself. "Rule 8."

"Boss? You know something I don't?"

Gibbs reached over and gently head-slapped him. "Know lots of things you don't, DiNozzo."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Fine. Do you know something about this specific situation that you seem to know about even though I haven't told you that makes you think I'm taking something for granted?"

When Gibbs just raised a single eyebrow and walked away, Tony let his head fall to the desk with a thump. When Gibbs didn't say anything more, Tony forced his attention back to the cold case. Sorting through financial records, looking for discrepancies kept his mind mostly occupied, right up until Tim came to sit on the edge of his desk.

"Hey, Tony. When Gibbs springs us, want to get dinner? I could bring pizza and beer over. We could watch a movie." He sat there, giving Tony the McEyebrow.

"Sure. We could do that," Tony said. He opened his mouth to ask Tim if this was supposed to be a date, but then realized the middle of the bullpen wasn't the best place to mention such things.

But McESP must have known what he was going to ask, because he shook his head slightly and leaned closer. "Just want to talk where nobody can hear us. Too long a discussion for the elevator," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tony just nodded, then raised his voice. "So, McElflord, are we going to watch something other than Lord of the Rings this time?"

Tim rolled his eyes. "You'd prefer watching James Bond for the millionth time, I suppose?"

"If you two don't stop chatting, you won't get out of here in time to watch a movie."

"Yes, Boss," they replied in unison.

Tony wasn't exactly sure what he did after that. Next thing he knew, Tim was ringing his doorbell.

McHotness was wearing dark jeans and a fitted T-shirt that highlighted how much weight he'd lost, and Tony swallowed hard. Ever since Ziva had stayed in Israel, they had taken to hanging out in the evenings, pizza and a movie at Tony's place, or dinner out someplace, or taking Jethro to the park and then listening to music at Tim's place. But this was the first time they had gotten together since Tony admitted yesterday he'd fallen for Tim, and Tony didn't know what to expect.

"Relax, Tony," Tim said. He handed him a beer. "Come on, pizza first."

Tony just nodded and grabbed two plates from the cabinet. "So what's after pizza?" He pulled a couple of slices onto his plate. "Is that where you tell me I was out of line and you're asking for a transfer?"

When McGee reached over and head-slapped him, Tony almost dropped his pizza.

"Now I know why Gibbs is always doing that," McGee said. "You can be an idiot sometimes, Tony. If I wasn't interested, I'd have just let you drop it like you said you would yesterday."

"So you are interested?" Tony stepped closer to him.

Tim sighed and dropped his head. "Yes. No. I don't know."

"Well, that was helpful, McPrecision."

Tim took a step back. "Come on. Let's eat. It's... complicated."

Tony settled on the couch, sitting on one side so Tim wouldn't feel like he had to sit right next to him.

"So what's complicated about it? Other than Rule 12, the fact we're both guys who usually date women and I seduced you under false pretenses?" Tony took a big bite of pizza, as much to shut himself up as anything else.

Tim snorted. "Yeah, other than that." He shook his head. "Tony, you are truly incorrigible sometimes." His face sobered. "No, actually I wanted to know why you want to go out. What changed?"

Tony put his plate down as his stomach filled with butterflies big enough to be bats. "I changed, Tim. I've been curious about you for years, but you're McSteady. You're the kind of guy who actually looks forward to a house and family and everything that goes with it, and I'm... not. Even if Gibbs hadn't had Rule 12, it wouldn't have been worth it to start something that had no way of working out. And then..." He let his voice trail off, thinking back.

"Jeanne?" Tim asked.

Tony just nodded. "That obvious, huh? Yeah, the frat boy getting forced into a long-term, serious relationship and actually liking it." He searched for the words to explain it. "I never really saw that as a kid. You've met my dad. He's been married more times than I can count. That's pretty common in the circle I grew up in. Rich men, trophy wives, illicit affairs — that's the world I come from. Even Gibbs, who's as close to a dad as I have, since my father couldn't even be bothered to come when I had the plague, has been divorced three times."

"And then the director put you in a position where you had no choice," Tim said.

Tony nodded again. "I had to do all those things that terrified me before, and make them work because if I didn't, I'd screw up the op. I used to run whenever I got close to something like that and that time I couldn't. Turns out the good parts make up for the frightening parts."

"So you found out a real relationship wasn't all bad?" Tim sipped his beer.

Tony just nodded. "But I didn't have any reason to think you liked guys, and you know the Boss and Rule 12."

Tim nodded. "You know, he gave me permission to break Rule 12."

"With Abby? No surprise there. She has both of you wrapped around her little finger." Tony shook his head. "Me too, actually. Even Vance has a soft spot for her — she and Gibbs are the only ones who can call him Leon and get away with it."

Tim rolled his eyes. "Yeah, the OSP team couldn't believe it when she was out there earlier this year. Eric e-mailed me and asked about it — he's another one she's got wrapped around her little finger." He paused. "Gibbs didn't just say I could break Rule 12 with Abby. He's OK if I break it with you."

Tony was glad he wasn't holding anything, because his whole body seemed to go numb at that. "That's what he... Gibbs knows?"

"Yes. No. Sort of."

"Again with the precision, McIndecisive. Please tell me you did not out me to Gibbs just to turn around and reject me." He rubbed a hand over his face.

"No! Tony, he knew. I went over to ask him for advice. Yesterday I already wasn't sure what to do about what you said and then Abby asked me if we could try dating again, and I was caught in this whole maze of Gibbs' rules and reality and went over to his place. I mentioned Rule 12 and Rule 15 and the first thing he said was your name and Abby's name." Tim stood and started pacing. "I'm beginning to think Abby's right, and he really is psychic."

"Wait. Hold on. Abby asked you back?" Tony closed his eyes. "Why are we even having this discussion? What aren't you and Abby out right now?"

"Tony."

He looked up to see Tim had stopped pacing and was watching him. "Why do you assume I'm going to pick Abby?"

"Where do I start? You two share a brain. You're the only normal guy she's ever dated, and she's finally come to her senses and realized that. You two fit so well it's scary sometimes. You'll have little Goth-geeklet babies who find a cure for cancer before they turn 18." Tony sighed. "We can't handle more than an hour together without bickering, I'm nobody's idea of a prize boyfriend, and in case you hadn't noticed, I'm not exactly in a position to give your genius kids my stunning good looks." He picked up his beer and drained the bottle. "So why shouldn't I assume you'd pick Abby?"

"Because I fell in love with you," Tim replied. "I love you, and I love Abby, and I never thought either one of you would want to be serious and settle down, and now you're both telling me you do, and I don't know what to do." He raked a hand though his hair so it stuck up in spikes on top of his head.

Tony took a deep breath and tried to find that zone he used when working a case. "Chill, Tim. Come on, sit down. Let's talk about it." He thought about what Tim had said, thought of everything he knew about his partner and about his honorary baby sister. "Look, I have to say, I don't know if either of us is the best choice for you long-term. We know my commitment issues, and my daddy issues and my trust issues and my..."

"Yeah, I get it Tony. Your family completely messed with your head. Gibbs screwed with it when he up and left. The director messed with it more when she sent you undercover, and Vance put the cherry on top of your issues sundae when he sent you agent afloating." Tim reached over and rubbed his shoulder, and Tony had to fight off a shiver. "I get it. And this is going to make me sound really screwed up, but part of me likes that. I like to be needed. I don't want to date somebody who acts like a kudzu plant, but I'm just traditional enough to need to date somebody who needs me."

"And Abby doesn't need you," Tony said. "She wants you, but I think the only person she needs in her life is Gibbs, and we all need him."

"Something like that," Tim said.

"So Abby doesn't need you, and I probably need you too much." Tony stood up. "I think I need more pizza and beer for this."

As he got both items from the kitchen, he used the break to think about what he was going to say. He wanted Tim, but he wanted their crazy NCIS family intact more than he wanted Tim, and he could only think of one possible solution — and Tim was going to think he was insane for suggesting it. With that in mind, he grabbed a second beer for Tim.

Tim had settled back on the couch and was finishing off his last bit of pizza.

"OK, Tim. You're stuck, and you're stuck between me and Abby. Which, let's face it, could be a nice place to be if it were, say, in bed but right now probably feels like you'd be better off if you were the only person standing between Gibbs and Eli David." He held up a hand as Tim started to speak. "I get it. I have a suggestion, and I'm going to be blunt. I don't think Abby can give you what you need long-term, and I'm not sure you can give her what she needs. But I don't think I can either, and the last thing I want is for us to start something and then you realize you really wanted to pick Abby. I mean, I get it. I'm the new flavor. You know what you're getting with her, and it's easy to think that something new could be better. So I think you should pick her."

"What?" Tim's mouth dropped open.

"Pick Abby. If you guys work, make me best man at the wedding and godfather to the first McBaby. If it doesn't work out, I'll still be here. It's not like my luck with women is liable to make a sudden improvement after this two-year drought."

Tim frowned.

"I can hear your gears McWhirring in that big brain of yours, Tim." Tony forced himself to keep his tone light.

"Yeah, yeah," Tim said. "So you'd rather let Abby take her best shot and see if it works and then be there if it doesn't than try and make the game-winning play yourself?" He paused. "You know, I really don't get how your mind works sometimes."

"And that is why I am the Jedi master, and you work with computers," Tony said. "Look, go home, think about this. Figure out what you want. And seriously think about what I said. It will not bother me if you pick Abby." He knew he was lying through his teeth, but he also knew he would rather have Tim pick Abby then start something with Tony and realize in six months that he should have picked Abby. He could handle being Uncle Tony. Really. He could. He couldn't handle being Tim's ex and still work with him and Abby, and the team was too much a family for him to want to screw things up.

Tim hesitated, and Tony hoped he wouldn't push the issue. Finally Tim nodded. "OK, Tony. But only if you promise me that if I pick you, you believe that I'm not going to regret turning Abby down. Because whatever choice I make, I'll make it because I believe it's the right one."

Tony opened his mouth to agree, but couldn't force the words out. Instead, he said, "Go home, McGee. Get some sleep. If this keeps you up all night, Gibbs will be after all three of us."

Tim opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally he said, "Good night, Tony," and leaned over to brush a brief kiss against Tony's lips. Before Tony could figure out what to say, McGee was gone.